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13 articles from 2008

29 August 2008 6:57 AM, PDT | From TwitchFilm.net | See recent Twitch news

And now I think we can finally put the very strange saga of Tony Jaa’s directorial debut behind us.  Thai media are reporting that Tony Jaa is back on set of Ong Bak 2 and production has resumed on the very troubled film, shut down recently for two solid months when Jaa simply disappeared - apparently having crumbled under the stress of directing a big budget film.

The interesting wrinkle here because nothing is ever straight forward with this film, it seems - is that Jaa has returned as star only.  Sahamongkol Film have apparently done the sensible thing and bounced Jaa out of the director’s chair, replacing him with his mentor, Born To Fight director Panna Rittikrai.  Now this, to me, seems like the best possible outcome for this.  From Sahamongkol’s perspective they now have a director in place with a proven track record of turning in good work cheap.

Todd Brown

13 August 2008 3:55 PM, PDT | From bloody-disgusting.com | See recent Bloody-Disgusting.com news

Magnet Releasing, the genre arm of Magnolia Pictures, announced today the launch of the Six Shooter Film Series, a theatrical release of six films from the vanguard of quality worldwide genre cinema. With each film hailing from a different country, the series aims to bring fans of horror, sci-fi, alternative comedy and Asian cinema a mix of the most intelligent, genre-bending titles available from around the globe. The film series is a labor of love for Magnet/Magnolia, who have been committed for some time now to bringing this kind of high-quality fare to theaters, releasing such beloved titles as Bong Joon-hos The Host and Ong Bak with Tony Jaa. Read on for the full release plans and details on all six films: Let The Right One In, Big Man Japan, Timecrimes, Donkey Punch, Special and Eden Log!

7 August 2008 11:15 AM, PDT | From QuietEarth.us | See recent QuietEarth news

The second round has been announced which includes some feature length world premiers as well as a host of crazy shorts. Nicolás López's Santos will be premiering in a sweeping tale of comic book nerds vs superheroes in a battle for the future makind, with a Chilean tip. Also playing will be Acolytes or how kids blackmail a serial killer which is quite beautifully shot. One of our favorite shorts will be playing, Osbert Parker's Film Noir. Eel Girl and the twisted Butcher's Hill will also be screened. Check out all the films after the break!

Santos

World Premiere / dir. Nicolás López / Chile / 2008 / 100 min.

Three years after his SXSW debut feature Promedio Rojo, Chilean prodigy director Nicolás López returns with Santos, a wild, sweeping tale of comic book nerds versus superheroes in a battle for the future of mankind. Think Ultraman with a Latin American brain transplant. From

7 August 2008 8:58 AM, PDT | From OriginalAlamo.com | See recent AlamoDrafthouseCinema news

Date: Thursday, August 7, 2008

Press Release: For Immediate Release

Subject: Second Wave of Fantastic Fest content announced

Where: Alamo Drafthouse Cinema South Lamar, Austin, TX

Fantastic Fest, September 18-25, 2008

Contact:

Tim League

(512) 912-0529

info@fantasticfest.com

www.fantasticfest.com

We are proud to announce the second wave of our feature film programming for the 2008 edition of Fantastic Fest in Austin, Texas. For the past 9 months, we have been scouring the globe for the strangest, the most heart-pounding and the most challenging new genre films. With over 100 films representing over 30 countries, Fantastic Fest is the largest festival of its kind in the United States. We are proud to announce our second announcement of 15 confirmed feature films as well as our first announcement of official short film selections and details on special “fantastic-fest-themed” Alamo signature events.

Round 2: Fantastic Features:

Santos

World Premiere / dir. Nicolás López / Chile / 2008 / 100 min.

Three years after his SXSW debut feature Promedio Rojo,

Tim League

7 August 2008 8:57 AM, PDT | From FantasticFest.com | See recent FantasticFest news

Date: Thursday, August 7, 2008

Press Release: For Immediate Release

Subject: Second Wave of Fantastic Fest content announced

Where: Alamo Drafthouse Cinema South Lamar, Austin, TX

Fantastic Fest, September 18-25, 2008

Contact:

Tim League

(512) 912-0529

info@fantasticfest.com

www.fantasticfest.com

We are proud to announce the second wave of our feature film programming for the 2008 edition of Fantastic Fest in Austin, Texas. For the past 9 months, we have been scouring the globe for the strangest, the most heart-pounding and the most challenging new genre films. With over 100 films representing over 30 countries, Fantastic Fest is the largest festival of its kind in the United States. We are proud to announce our second announcement of 15 confirmed feature films as well as our first announcement of official short film selections and details on special “fantastic-fest-themed” Alamo signature events.

Round 2: Fantastic Features:

Santos

World Premiere / dir. Nicolás López / Chile / 2008 / 100 min.

Three years after his SXSW debut feature Promedio Rojo,

noreply@blogger.com (Tim League)

6 August 2008 10:04 AM, PDT | From TwitchFilm.net | See recent Twitch news

Yes, boys and girls, it’s Wednesday and that means it’s time for the weekly Twitch Video Player Top Ten!  The ongoing Tony Jaa saga keeps the Ong Bak 2 promo reel in the top spot, followed closely by a sword wielding Korean pop star while the mighty chin takes a major tumble all the way down to number ten.  Here we go!

1.  Ong Bak 2 Promo Reel (11604)

2.  Ninja Assassin Behind the Scenes (5490)

3.  Ashes of Time Redux Trailer (1346)

4.  Martyrs Trailer (923)

5.  Mum and Dad Trailer (909)

6.  Ssd Trailer (708)

7.  Genius Party Beyond Trailer Two (601)

8.  The Divine Weapon Trailer (496)

9.  Tokyo Gore Police Promo (466)

10. My Name Is Bruce Trailer (428)

Todd Brown

5 August 2008 2:56 AM, PDT | From TwitchFilm.net | See recent Twitch news

Just because, you know, crying on network TV isn’t a weird enough way to end this particular story the saga of the Mia Tony Jaa got a good bit weirder over the past week before coming to an end.  Finally.  We think.  Here’s the skinny:

After the TV crying episode Jaa was whisked away in a car full of “heavies” that included his lawyer, a situation that prompted his own father to speculate that the martial arts star had been kidnapped.  But no, Jaa turned up shortly thereafter to say there was no kidnapping.  He did, however, have a list of seven demands that Sahamongkol must meet if he was to finish filming Ong Bak 2.  And those are:

1. He wants an extra 55 million baht to finish the last 20 percent of the film. That does not include the cost of the film, actor hire, studio hire, theatre run.

Todd Brown

4 August 2008 5:06 PM, PDT | From JoBlo.com | See recent JoBlo news

Just a couple weeks back, we heard Muay Thai terror Tony Jaa up and went Awol in the midst of directing himself in a follow-up to the popular face-masher Ong-bak. Rumors of pressure and budget problems were reportedly the cause of his sudden quest for solitude. But now Jaa has come back! Is it for a happy ending? I dunno, the story itself is pretty bizarre... Apparently, Jaa's return involved a weeping apology on television, and a promise to complete Ong-bak 2 but with a list of demands...

Dave Davis

29 July 2008 8:14 PM, PDT | From TwitchFilm.net | See recent Twitch news

The very strange saga of Tony Jaa and his disappearance from the set of Ong Bak 2 appears to have come to a tearful end.  Two months after disappearing from the set of his latest martial arts picture - one which the young Jaa is directing as well as starring in - and after very public mud slinging about finance, not to mention the bizarre reports that Jaa spent the past months in a cave practicing black magic, Jaa appeared on Thai TV yesterday, making his first public appearance since this all began.

Accompanied by his lawyer - an interesting choice, that - Jaa broke down in tears as he denied the black magic rumors and stated his desire to return to the film and complete it as its director.  Now, crying in public is really not the sort of thing action stars are supposed to do - can you

Todd Brown

29 July 2008 12:14 AM, PDT | From Digitalspy | See recent digitalspy news

Tony Jaa, the director and star of upcoming martial arts film Ong-bak 2, has been missing since June, says Variety. Sahamongkol Films's president Somsak Techaratanaprasert confirmed the news, but insisted that Jaa's film will still be ready for its scheduled release this year. Reports in Jaa's native Thailand have suggested that the actor has fled to the jungle to meditate after feeling the financial pressure of helming his first feature film. "I love him as a son," said Techaratanaprasert . "I guarantee that this is (more)

By Simon Reynolds

28 July 2008 1:29 AM, PDT | From Rope Of Silicon | See recent Rope Of Silicon news

Wanna hear a crazy story? Variety is reporting that Tony Jaa (Ong Bak, The Protector) has gone off to the jungle to meditate due to the three years it has taken him to film Ong Bak 2. Reporting the news on July 27, apparently Jaa has been missing since June according to Sahamongkol president Somsak Techaratanaprasert who held a press conference to confirm the fact. Apparently the studio does expect Ong Bak 2 to still be ready for its Thai release on December 5, but according to his family Jaa has suffered a lot of stress from the shoot and has gone to meditate in the jungle. Reports in the Thai press suggest a case of budget mismanagement that resulted in Jaa spending over 200 million baht ($6.25 million) without finishing the film. Techaratanaprasert confronted the financial question saying, "I guarantee that this is not a case of financial fraud, and I have no

Brad Brevet

27 July 2008 2:57 AM, PDT | From TwitchFilm.net | See recent Twitch news

If you’ve been wondering what’s taking Tony Jaa so long to finish up work on his upcoming martial arts film Ong Bak 2, well ... you’re not the only one.  And a series of stories have appeared in the Thai press recently that paint a very strange picture.  Apparently Jaa walked off the set two months ago, stressed over the work load of his directorial debut.  That much people agree on.  But this is where the story gets strange.

Some reports say that Jaa has retreated to some remote caves in northern Thailand to meditate and / or practice black magic and claim that his mentor Panna Rittikrai was sent to find Jaa and bring him back some time ago with no success.  These reports also seem to be of the opinion that Jaa has gone about three times over budget and that the production funds have dried up.

Todd Brown

23 July 2008 7:55 PM, PDT | From TwitchFilm.net | See recent Twitch news

Martial arts film is at a crossroads.  Yes, the fan base is still worldwide and massive but the supply of talent is in crisis and has been for years.  Pretty much right from the beginning we have looked to China and Hong Kong for our screen fighters but the golden days of the Shaw Brothers grooming young talent, the Yuen Clan cherry picking the best youngsters and the Beijing Opera turning out performers by the boat load have long since passed.  Look at what’s happening in Hong Kong film right now:  Jet Li and Jackie Chan are both losing ground to age and talking retirement, leaving only Donnie Yen as a prime, top of his game fighter.  The next generation?  With the exception of Wu Jing it’s simply not there, or if it is nobody has recognized it yet.  If you’re looking for fresh fists of fury

Todd Brown

13 articles from 2008